Nutrient Feeders for People With Swallowing Problems

It can be challenging for those who have difficulty swallowing, known as dysphagia, to consume enough calories to feed their bodies. Often, nutrient feeders in the form of feeding tubes are needed for a safe feeding solution. These feeding tubes bypass the mouth and throat, ensuring that people with swallowing problems maintain proper nutrition without the risk of choking or lung aspiration. Feeding tubes come in several varieties and are placed in different parts of the body.

NG-Tube

• A nasogastric tube (NG tube) is placed in one nostril and passed through the pharynx, down the esophagus and into the stomach. The tube is held to the nose with tape after its placement is checked. The NG tube is generally used for short-term feeding, since long-term use can cause sinusitis, nasal erosion and other respiratory and oral problems. Once in place, a syringe, enteral pump (electronic pump designed for use with feeding tubes) or drip bag can be used to pass a feeding solution through the tube and into the stomach. Before each feeding, care should be taken to ensure the tube is properly situated in the stomach; otherwise, the feeding solution can be aspirated into the lungs. The NG tube can be placed by a licensed nurse or physician.

G-Tube

• A gastrostomy tube (G-tube), also known as a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube, goes directly to the stomach via surgical placement in the abdominal wall. The G-tube generally enters the body below the ribcage, slightly to the left, and is designed to give convenient access for the delivery of a feeding solution. The G-tube is ideal for long-term feeding because of its ease of replacement, high comfort level and convenience of feeding. The feeding solution can be passed through the tube by syringe, pump or drip bag methods. A common complication of the G-tube is moderate gastric leakage; these gastric juices can be highly corrosive, causing skin irritation. G-tubes must be placed by licensed physicians.

J-Tube

• The jejunostomy tube (J-tube) is surgically placed in the jejunum, which is the upper part of the small intestine, immediately below the stomach. The J-tube enters the body in the lower center of the abdomen and is usually secured with sutures. Since this method bypasses the stomach and delivers the feeding solution directly to the intestinal tract, it's primarily used when someone has difficulty digesting food, emptying their stomach or when pancreatic disease is present. When using a J-tube, an enteral pump must always deliver the feeding solution. Problems with the J-tube can include tube clogs, tube dislodging or connection issues with the pump. The J-tube is inserted by a surgeon and maintained by a home health nurse or doctor.